This super rare Mk III Spitfire Sebring GT hardtop belongs to Jon Cronin. It is one of only two surviving currently known to the Register, with other known survivors being the later and slightly differently styled Mk IV Spitfire version. The fact that it is white fibreglass all the way through is indicative that it
was an original pre-1973 W&P manufactured one, rather than a later Fibresports manufactured one. Jon is delighted with his find which will shortly undergo a full restoration.
In Jon's own words:
"I recently bought a hardtop which I believed to be a Lenham. At the same time the Triumph Sports Six club magazine ran a feature on hardtops showing the ebay photo of the one I had just bought and describing it as a Williams & Pritchard (they also ran a photo of the Sebring GT brochure you use on your site) - its very like the photos in the brochure i.e. for a Spitfire MK3 rather than the MKIV photos you've shown).
The parcel shelf is intact with fuel filler extensions, and the rivited aluminim rain channels. It looks to have been white originally but was painted red at some point. The headlining (which looks original) is black cloth, the fixing brackets are pretty crude being simple right angled black painted bar and an odd odd side mounting braket (other one is missing).
A fellow member of the TSSC has also advised that he has one "tucked behind his shed" having decided to put a factory steel hardtop on his MK3 instead. I've asked for some photos and advised him to contact the W&P Register.
I just thought I'd mention a few things about the top. It has standard Triumph MK3 boot hinges rather than the MG Y types mentioned for other bootlids, and also has a standard MK3 fuel filler cap. The boot handle appears slightly heavier and longer than the standard MK3 Spitfire boothandle. Aluminium rain channels are riveted around the side windows (although part of one is missing). There is some crazing (little) but no delamination or cracks. Some of the metal strengtheners appear to be a little crispy ... white fibreglass colour is all the way through ... the black, soft headlining is intact but the backing material is pretty perished. I think I'll try to carefully remove and have a new cloth back bonded to the original headling. The parcel shelf seems intact although there are 3 small (approx 3mm) holes drilled each side of the bump - maybe speaker fitment? I have very crude brackets - black right angled (4 in total) plus an odd body colour bracket that seems to attach to the side just below the rear of the side window . I only have one of these so assume the other is missing. All told it appears to be in pretty good shape. The only thing I know about it was that it was sourced by a classic car garage in Essex for a customer that had built a Spitfire body on GT6 engine and runing gear.
It'll be fitted on my 1967 MK3 Spitfire FD5305 (O) - Original 48K miles, one previous owner car with SAH Stage 1 modification (Rocker cover SAH Inlet manifold with twin Stromberg carb kit; SAH type 26 fast road cam extractor exhaust manifold; and big box 2" staight through exhaust. Also has fibreglass lightweight bucket seats and original stanpart seatbelts, mudflaps and Formula GT 15" wood rim wheel. Originally produced in Triumph White with Red Interior she's just become a Conifer Green example with Black interior. My intention is for the hartop to be painted Conifer Green like the rest of the car,
possibly with a racing stripe - not sure yet."
Many thanks to Jon for the use of his photographs and text.
below: sleek curves and stylish overhang indicate the shape of things to come |
